The Other Madisons (film)
| The Other Madisons | |
|---|---|
 Bettye Kearse | |
| Directed by | Eduardo Montes-Bradley |
| Written by | Eduardo Montes-Bradley |
| Based on | The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President's Black Family by Bettye Kearse |
| Produced by | Heritage Film Project |
| Starring | Bettye Kearse, Rita Dove, Matthew B. Reeves, Christian Cotz, Lynn Rainville. |
| Cinematography | Eduardo Montes-Bradley |
| Distributed by | Heritage Film Project |
Release date |
|
Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Other Madisons is a 2021 American documentary film directed by Eduardo Montes-Bradley and produced by the Heritage Film Project. The film is based on the 2020 memoir The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President's Black Family by Bettye Kearse. The documentary explores the oral tradition of a family of Black descendants of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States.
Synopsis
The documentary documents the process by which an oral tradition preserves an important social record, both in spite of and in response to suppression and racism. The film follows Bettye Kearse, who traces her ancestry to Mandy, the family's first African ancestor enslaved on American soil and owned by President Madison's estate in Virginia, Montpelier. Author Bettye Kearse, narrates the extraordinary saga of her family, multiple generations descendants of slaves, and James Madison, president of the United States of America. The documentary serves as an extension of Bettye Kearse's award-winning book The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President's Black Family. Kearse's genealogical work is contextualized through her research, encounters with cultural institutions, and explores the challenges faced by African American families in preserving their historical narratives.
Production
The Other Madisons was directed by Eduardo Montes-Bradley, who based his research on Bettye Kearse memories. The film was produced by Heritage Film Project. Montes-Bradley was awarded by the National Council on Public History for the project, with the "Outstanding Public History Project Award" as part of the parallel exhibit "The Mere Distinction of Colour" produced by James Madison's Montpelier.
Release and distribution
The Other Madison's was released by Kanopy, and Alexander Street Press in 2021, and has been shown in multiple cultural centers and film festivals.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Festival appearances
The Other Madisons was selected to participate in the Official Selection at the following film festivals:
- The Roxbury International Film Festival (2021)
- Mystic Film Festival (2022)
- DC Black Film Festival (2021)
- AfryKamera African Film Festival (2021)
- Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (2022)
- Black Truth Film Festival (2022, Honorable Mention)
- Atlanta Black Pride Film Festival (2022, Honorable Mention).
Critical reception
The Other Madisons has been described as "a remarkable contribution to American history, documenting" the preservation of oral traditions within African American families. The documentary has been praised for its examination of how historical narratives are maintained despite systemic suppression.[5]
Featured participants
- Bettye Kearse, protagonist and author, descendant of the Madison enslaved community;
- Rita Dove,former United States Poet Laureate;
- Matthew B. Reeves, archaeologist and historian at James Madison's Montpelier;
- Christian Cotz, former CEO of the First Amendment Museum; Lynn Rainville, former dean of Sweet Briar College, and Director of Institutional History at Washington and Lee University.
Subject matter
The film is based on Bettye Kearse's memoir,[6] which received the International Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Book Award for Nonfiction, Autobiography. Her research for The Other Madisons was also covered in the Washington Post.[7] The documentary explores themes of: African American genealogy and family history oral tradition, and the legacy of slavery at James Madison's family Plantation.
References
- ^ Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico
- ^ First Amendment Museum (March 2021)
- ^ Book Passage bookstore (May 2021)
- ^ Library Company of Philadelphia
- ^ Kanopy Streaming
- ^ The Lost History of a President's Black Family. Mariner Books, 2020. ISBN 132860439X
- ^ "Always Remember you're a Madison" by By Krissah Thompson Nov. 14, 2017